I just got back in from giving blood. The Red Cross is here on campus this afternoon for 5 hours. The sad thing is I was only #29. Pretty bad when there are over 20,000 students on campus and 5000 faculty/staff. I did get the honor of the procedure where they split out your white blood cells in the machine and then inject you with COLD saline. Well, its not that cold its at room temp but that is still only like 67 degrees. It makes you feel funny and my lips turn blue. During checkin the lady had a puzzled look on her face - she said did you just eat some icecream? I said heavens no - why? She said you temperature is only 94.3 degrees... I smiled and said - that is pretty normal for me -my wife is the HOT one. :)
I always reflect back to when my mom was sick when I give blood. This procedure is done mostly for cancer patients and I am glad to do my part in helping them in some way. It is a horrible disease and I am glad to have given this "Gift" to a person who is sick and their family during this Thanksgiving season.
Now I get to rest on the couch tonight and rest - nurses orders :)
Lonnie~
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Morning time.....
James 2
Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[f] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
26 Just as the body is dead without breath,[i] so also faith is dead without good works.
Ever get those nudges where you know God is asking you to do something? You sit and examine what it is you are feeling and then talk back and forth with God? You want me to do what? Now? Here? I will look stupid or silly ... Can't you ask someone else God? What if I fail or they reject me? I don't want to extend myself ... I am scared.
I do this as well. But I do it less and less often. I have had some nudges lately from the Lord. I have been blessed in the experience by just saying, "Ok God - I am on it".
There are some hurting people around us. There are some who feel they are walking completely alone. They may be surrounded by hundreds of people - but feel they are there - alone. We can feel alone even while sitting at a football game with 80,000 people around us. We have lost our purpose, our vision, experienced or experiencing something very dark and hurtful, but God can open that wound and clean it. He can shed light on that struggle and hurt and provide healing. He can restore that marriage, friendship or child who seems very far away from the family right now. The pit that you are in right now, whatever it may be, is God getting your attention. He is chasing you down. Every day of rebellion is a brick that is building a wall between you and our heavenly father.
Last night while spending some time with some good friends... I couldn't help but to look out the window and see the rain falling. This morning I know why the rain really stood out in my mind. It was God washing away what was left at that table. There was a start to healing because God sat at that table with us last night. He has told us that when 2 or more get together in His name, He would be there with us. Last night was a church night. We didn't have to wait till Sunday - we took the church with us. That rain is special, it refreshes our soul and makes new.
Psalm 95
If only you would listen to his voice today! 8 The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts."
God can and will do amazing things in your life, if you would just let Him. It's by His grace that we even draw our next breath.
I want to be right with God - Whatever it takes and whatever it costs...... join me in those words. Examine what you are carrying... the load is heavy. How much do you have control over those things anyways? You do your part....and God will do His part.
I too have had to learn that lesson....... I am thankful for many things this morning but most important - I am thankful that God accepted me as I am.
Start today Loved ones..... TRUST- The Real U Starts Today
With love and prayers,
Lonnie~
Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[f] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
26 Just as the body is dead without breath,[i] so also faith is dead without good works.
Ever get those nudges where you know God is asking you to do something? You sit and examine what it is you are feeling and then talk back and forth with God? You want me to do what? Now? Here? I will look stupid or silly ... Can't you ask someone else God? What if I fail or they reject me? I don't want to extend myself ... I am scared.
I do this as well. But I do it less and less often. I have had some nudges lately from the Lord. I have been blessed in the experience by just saying, "Ok God - I am on it".
There are some hurting people around us. There are some who feel they are walking completely alone. They may be surrounded by hundreds of people - but feel they are there - alone. We can feel alone even while sitting at a football game with 80,000 people around us. We have lost our purpose, our vision, experienced or experiencing something very dark and hurtful, but God can open that wound and clean it. He can shed light on that struggle and hurt and provide healing. He can restore that marriage, friendship or child who seems very far away from the family right now. The pit that you are in right now, whatever it may be, is God getting your attention. He is chasing you down. Every day of rebellion is a brick that is building a wall between you and our heavenly father.
Last night while spending some time with some good friends... I couldn't help but to look out the window and see the rain falling. This morning I know why the rain really stood out in my mind. It was God washing away what was left at that table. There was a start to healing because God sat at that table with us last night. He has told us that when 2 or more get together in His name, He would be there with us. Last night was a church night. We didn't have to wait till Sunday - we took the church with us. That rain is special, it refreshes our soul and makes new.
Psalm 95
If only you would listen to his voice today! 8 The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts."
God can and will do amazing things in your life, if you would just let Him. It's by His grace that we even draw our next breath.
I want to be right with God - Whatever it takes and whatever it costs...... join me in those words. Examine what you are carrying... the load is heavy. How much do you have control over those things anyways? You do your part....and God will do His part.
I too have had to learn that lesson....... I am thankful for many things this morning but most important - I am thankful that God accepted me as I am.
Start today Loved ones..... TRUST- The Real U Starts Today
With love and prayers,
Lonnie~
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday morning....
And I did not like the alarm this morning. I was pumped up last night after Rock Group. Maybe it was the people and maybe it was God's word moving in me or maybe it was something shared. Maybe it was everything about it.... this thing of doing life with others. Others that are like family in so many ways. People you really care about and kids who you really want to pour into.
Yesterday at church Brandon and April shared with everyone that they are being called away from our church. Carol and I both sat and let a few tears go as they shared the answer of Gods direction. It must have been hard and tough for them to do this but honoring God is above all those things, especially the emotions and the goodbyes. Love you both ....... and so proud of you. I am excited for ya'll and the journey ahead.
Carol has got our turkey. She will be fixin to make the preperations for the 10 minute meal that takes 10 hours to get ready. Looking forward to some down time and sharing the meal over and over again... I am sure there will be turkey sandwiches, soup, cake and more turkey somethings. I continue to feel that this year will be a giving year even with the shape that folks are in. I do believe it will be a year spent on others. If money is short this year...... spend your gift in "TIME" - there are people out there who need someone to walk with them, to help that hurt, an ear for talking with, leaves that need to be cleaned out of the gutters, kids that can be watched so mom can have some "Mommy" time.... You fill in the "TIME" ....
Hoping to hang out with some of my guy peeps tonight........ have a great Monday~
Love ya'll,
Lon~
Yesterday at church Brandon and April shared with everyone that they are being called away from our church. Carol and I both sat and let a few tears go as they shared the answer of Gods direction. It must have been hard and tough for them to do this but honoring God is above all those things, especially the emotions and the goodbyes. Love you both ....... and so proud of you. I am excited for ya'll and the journey ahead.
Carol has got our turkey. She will be fixin to make the preperations for the 10 minute meal that takes 10 hours to get ready. Looking forward to some down time and sharing the meal over and over again... I am sure there will be turkey sandwiches, soup, cake and more turkey somethings. I continue to feel that this year will be a giving year even with the shape that folks are in. I do believe it will be a year spent on others. If money is short this year...... spend your gift in "TIME" - there are people out there who need someone to walk with them, to help that hurt, an ear for talking with, leaves that need to be cleaned out of the gutters, kids that can be watched so mom can have some "Mommy" time.... You fill in the "TIME" ....
Hoping to hang out with some of my guy peeps tonight........ have a great Monday~
Love ya'll,
Lon~
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Saturday - has been a good day. Last night got to serve at the Angel Food Ministry at a local church. There was not much to do since most everything was done already. We were introduced to a man that gave us a tour of this awesome facility. It makes one dream big for a building built for Jesus. Makes me excited to one day see a place where Jesus will be a part of our community in a BIG way! Life changed and children growing up knowing they have a purpose, a plan, gifts and talents and that God loves them. It is very exciting indeed.
We dropped off the meal that came in a large box, feeds a family of 4 for a week - breakfast, lunch and dinner. I hope to continue to help those around me who need a little encouragment and a little help..... God has really placed this on me the last month or so.
Today I was awake early. Have one of "MyKids" onn my mind and heart today. She is with her dad for the first time in 2 years. I pray for that time together. Church Rock Group meeting this morning and then some wood splitting with Kyle. He worked his butt off getting that wood split. Love it when he learns about hard work. This afternoon we headed to the movies. It was a good family time together.
49ers game tonight. Kyle has his green hair and face painted...... hee looks awesome. Hope we come out with a Win against Clemson....should be exciting.
Early start tomorrow with setup at church. Going to be cold but really looking forward to serving. Praying God moves like never before and in a new exciting way. Big changes coming ...... but I am trusting God above all else. Walk by Faith.......
talk tomorrow....
Lon~
We dropped off the meal that came in a large box, feeds a family of 4 for a week - breakfast, lunch and dinner. I hope to continue to help those around me who need a little encouragment and a little help..... God has really placed this on me the last month or so.
Today I was awake early. Have one of "MyKids" onn my mind and heart today. She is with her dad for the first time in 2 years. I pray for that time together. Church Rock Group meeting this morning and then some wood splitting with Kyle. He worked his butt off getting that wood split. Love it when he learns about hard work. This afternoon we headed to the movies. It was a good family time together.
49ers game tonight. Kyle has his green hair and face painted...... hee looks awesome. Hope we come out with a Win against Clemson....should be exciting.
Early start tomorrow with setup at church. Going to be cold but really looking forward to serving. Praying God moves like never before and in a new exciting way. Big changes coming ...... but I am trusting God above all else. Walk by Faith.......
talk tomorrow....
Lon~
Friday, November 21, 2008
Philippians 3:12-15
I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
A few years ago, I did everything I knew how to do to speak for Jesus to my family. It was a promise that I made to my mom before she passed. We were at the hospital and a LOT of my family members where there visiting with mom. It was early on in her fight with cancer and mom had some toughness about her! I remember her sitting up and asking everyone to leave the room. Shocked at this...we all began to leave and she asked my dad to leave to and then said "Except for you Randy". I thought, oh boy, I am in trouble - what did I do or say now?
Mom began to explain to me what was ahead for her. She explained to me that she wanted to see my dad and my brother and so many others in heaven. She didn't want to fight this cancer and not know for sure that she would see them again. On a napkin -she made me write -"I Promise" on it. I promise to make sure I would lead our family to Jesus. I would do everything I could to make sure mom would see the people she loved the most - her family. I walked out of the room with the napkin shaking in my hands and everyone sitting on edge waiting for me to come out. 1000 questions at once - I showed them the napkin and then sat down next to the little kitchen coffee area - and wept.
I held strong on that promise for the first year and half. I did everything I could, I was driving myself crazy, I was feeling the weight of that promise on my shoulders. I felt letdown and shamed that I had no gotten any closer to bring my family to Jesus than when I wrote those words. God spoke to me then and told me - "Hey, I got it". "Keep serving me and doing as I ask and I will take care of everything, leave it, leave them with me". It was well needed and God lifted that weight off my shoulders. He carries it now and even though I am still not sure if God is the centerpiece ... I know its in His time and not my time. Its in His hands and not in My hands. I can only do my part in leading folks to Jesus - I can only do my part in showing them the practical love of Jesus - I can only do my part in living out my life for Jesus and what He means to me. Their walk is their walk....... I press on because I know what is ahead. The last few months, I have felt a bigger calling to do more for those around me. I told a family just this week when dropping a meal off to them that I had stopped arguing with God about doing His will. I hear his voice to do something and I say no way ... you want me to do what? Come on, this is silly - often times I would pass it off. I miss out on the blessing or what God wants to teach me. I am finding myself more in tune the last few months with God and just doing what He wants me to do...regardless ......
Even though things around you today seem dark, things never seem to change, people are the same, you have taken 2 steps up and now something has happened and 3 steps back are in order.... God is working in those steps regardless of what we see.
When you accepted the call to follow Jesus - You also wrote "I Promise" in your heart. Press on loved ones, even during those sticky parts and those hard places. Keep doing The Hard Things...........God is working in them even when we don't see it. God is working in those family members, your neighbors and loved ones - even when we don't see it. I heard about a wife who worked at a church as the pastors assistant for over 14 years. Every Sunday she served the Lord, served their pastor and the community - she lived a life worthy of being called a follower of Jesus. Her husband came to church every Sunday, supported her in everything she did - but he did not know Jesus - even though the pastor and so many others have shared Jesus with him. He was not ready ... he was not there yet. One day at a prayer meeting, he again felt the call on his heart to accept Jesus. He owned a local restaurant and had invited his pastor and many of his family and friends for a meal. After the restaurant had long closed - everyone was still there.... everyone wondering why - it was then that he shared his story. How he was not ready, afraid of what others might think, 14 years of walking and wandering, afraid to take the step in faith to trust in Jesus over his life. It was then that the pastor, his family, friends and his wife shared in him accepting Jesus. 14 years .......... but worth every step of it.
Mom, "I Promise" will forever be written on my heart. Because of your sickness, the darkest time ever in my life, it changed the direction of my life. Something good came from something so horrible. Darkness turned to light - I answered God's call on my life. I am His ....
TRUST - The Real U Starts Today
Look ahead loved ones.... there is more and the best is ahead of us - exciting things are in front of us. Its time to dig in and "Do the hard things".
What is God asking of you today?
Lon
I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
A few years ago, I did everything I knew how to do to speak for Jesus to my family. It was a promise that I made to my mom before she passed. We were at the hospital and a LOT of my family members where there visiting with mom. It was early on in her fight with cancer and mom had some toughness about her! I remember her sitting up and asking everyone to leave the room. Shocked at this...we all began to leave and she asked my dad to leave to and then said "Except for you Randy". I thought, oh boy, I am in trouble - what did I do or say now?
Mom began to explain to me what was ahead for her. She explained to me that she wanted to see my dad and my brother and so many others in heaven. She didn't want to fight this cancer and not know for sure that she would see them again. On a napkin -she made me write -"I Promise" on it. I promise to make sure I would lead our family to Jesus. I would do everything I could to make sure mom would see the people she loved the most - her family. I walked out of the room with the napkin shaking in my hands and everyone sitting on edge waiting for me to come out. 1000 questions at once - I showed them the napkin and then sat down next to the little kitchen coffee area - and wept.
I held strong on that promise for the first year and half. I did everything I could, I was driving myself crazy, I was feeling the weight of that promise on my shoulders. I felt letdown and shamed that I had no gotten any closer to bring my family to Jesus than when I wrote those words. God spoke to me then and told me - "Hey, I got it". "Keep serving me and doing as I ask and I will take care of everything, leave it, leave them with me". It was well needed and God lifted that weight off my shoulders. He carries it now and even though I am still not sure if God is the centerpiece ... I know its in His time and not my time. Its in His hands and not in My hands. I can only do my part in leading folks to Jesus - I can only do my part in showing them the practical love of Jesus - I can only do my part in living out my life for Jesus and what He means to me. Their walk is their walk....... I press on because I know what is ahead. The last few months, I have felt a bigger calling to do more for those around me. I told a family just this week when dropping a meal off to them that I had stopped arguing with God about doing His will. I hear his voice to do something and I say no way ... you want me to do what? Come on, this is silly - often times I would pass it off. I miss out on the blessing or what God wants to teach me. I am finding myself more in tune the last few months with God and just doing what He wants me to do...regardless ......
Even though things around you today seem dark, things never seem to change, people are the same, you have taken 2 steps up and now something has happened and 3 steps back are in order.... God is working in those steps regardless of what we see.
When you accepted the call to follow Jesus - You also wrote "I Promise" in your heart. Press on loved ones, even during those sticky parts and those hard places. Keep doing The Hard Things...........God is working in them even when we don't see it. God is working in those family members, your neighbors and loved ones - even when we don't see it. I heard about a wife who worked at a church as the pastors assistant for over 14 years. Every Sunday she served the Lord, served their pastor and the community - she lived a life worthy of being called a follower of Jesus. Her husband came to church every Sunday, supported her in everything she did - but he did not know Jesus - even though the pastor and so many others have shared Jesus with him. He was not ready ... he was not there yet. One day at a prayer meeting, he again felt the call on his heart to accept Jesus. He owned a local restaurant and had invited his pastor and many of his family and friends for a meal. After the restaurant had long closed - everyone was still there.... everyone wondering why - it was then that he shared his story. How he was not ready, afraid of what others might think, 14 years of walking and wandering, afraid to take the step in faith to trust in Jesus over his life. It was then that the pastor, his family, friends and his wife shared in him accepting Jesus. 14 years .......... but worth every step of it.
Mom, "I Promise" will forever be written on my heart. Because of your sickness, the darkest time ever in my life, it changed the direction of my life. Something good came from something so horrible. Darkness turned to light - I answered God's call on my life. I am His ....
TRUST - The Real U Starts Today
Look ahead loved ones.... there is more and the best is ahead of us - exciting things are in front of us. Its time to dig in and "Do the hard things".
What is God asking of you today?
Lon
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednsday thoughts...
Kyle has his Wednesday evening Bible study with his friends tonight. I am thankful for his peeps and their parents that come and get him and drop him off. It gives Carol and I 2 hours to get things done, have dinner together, sit and talk ... just have a little time together. With everything we are doing and all the places and needs we are meeting - it is nice to have a little time for each other. I miss that and I look forward to the Thanksgiving break and the Christmas break to have more time together.
Some of the things I am learning ......
Proverbs 24:
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly - at first. Anything worth doing is worth failing at and trying again. So many times we stay in our comfort zones. We feel inadequate in taking on new challenges, especially when we have never done something before. We are afraid to move forward. I have struggled in the past to staff my ministry teams with the right amount of people. There never seems to be enough people willing to help. Willing to step forward and take a chance and coming out of their comfort zones. The last few days, it has been clear that people who serve - need to serve with their families. It needs to be a total buy in to Gods vision and purpose and it has to be within the family. The family needs to be involved. I have seen so many times the dad serving or the mom serving and the other is not.... it just doesn't last. I am not saying that to be true in all cases - there are some wonderful folks serving and have served for an extended time. I continue to pray for 7 all out, totally sold out, totally got the fever for Jesus families to come to my church and step up in a way that no matter if they are cleaning toilets, teaching kids or just moving heavy speakers from one place to another........ SOLD OUT!!!
I can remember when I first started serving at church after years of excuses. Excuses of lies really. I just was not sold out on this church thing and was not following Jesus with my heart even though outside - I appeared to be doing everything right. I remember the first few times serving, putting the screen together wrong, upside down, legs at different length - I remember putting chairs up in a row that a blind person could put straighter - I remember those tough days serving and having no idea what I was doing but I knew God wanted me there......... I am forever grateful for the step in faith and trusted Him for leading me to serve. It has been an amazing walk to say the least.....
I have come to realize that its OK to fail at hard things, because all effort - even failed effort- produces growth. I think about our teenagers and our children - we rescue them way too often when they fail. We don't let them experience it and then encourage them to try again. Often times we either bale them out or do the task ourselves. Lessons passed instead of lessons learned. Years later we may have teenagers or 20 somethings afraid to "Do the Hard Things" because fear of failure keeps them from even trying.
Pastor Furtick from Elevation wrote on a recent blog - that when we move up to the next level - we often find ourselves at the bottom of that next level instead of at the top. Its like moving from Elementary school to Middle School. We are at the top of the school in 5th grade only to come to 6th and be at the bottom. Middle to High - High to College - Job Promotion to Job Promotion......... God wants to stretch us, teach us, push us to our limits and beyond .... so that we grow.
Growth being a Christain is the same concept. We are baby Christians we think and act centered around us. Spoon fed........ learning, shaping, character building because of Jesus - our focus becomes others, serving others, helping others.... the graduation from one level to another can't happen without some failure along the way.
BUT - it produces growth...........Great things are ahead ~
Peace,
Lon~
Some of the things I am learning ......
Proverbs 24:
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly - at first. Anything worth doing is worth failing at and trying again. So many times we stay in our comfort zones. We feel inadequate in taking on new challenges, especially when we have never done something before. We are afraid to move forward. I have struggled in the past to staff my ministry teams with the right amount of people. There never seems to be enough people willing to help. Willing to step forward and take a chance and coming out of their comfort zones. The last few days, it has been clear that people who serve - need to serve with their families. It needs to be a total buy in to Gods vision and purpose and it has to be within the family. The family needs to be involved. I have seen so many times the dad serving or the mom serving and the other is not.... it just doesn't last. I am not saying that to be true in all cases - there are some wonderful folks serving and have served for an extended time. I continue to pray for 7 all out, totally sold out, totally got the fever for Jesus families to come to my church and step up in a way that no matter if they are cleaning toilets, teaching kids or just moving heavy speakers from one place to another........ SOLD OUT!!!
I can remember when I first started serving at church after years of excuses. Excuses of lies really. I just was not sold out on this church thing and was not following Jesus with my heart even though outside - I appeared to be doing everything right. I remember the first few times serving, putting the screen together wrong, upside down, legs at different length - I remember putting chairs up in a row that a blind person could put straighter - I remember those tough days serving and having no idea what I was doing but I knew God wanted me there......... I am forever grateful for the step in faith and trusted Him for leading me to serve. It has been an amazing walk to say the least.....
I have come to realize that its OK to fail at hard things, because all effort - even failed effort- produces growth. I think about our teenagers and our children - we rescue them way too often when they fail. We don't let them experience it and then encourage them to try again. Often times we either bale them out or do the task ourselves. Lessons passed instead of lessons learned. Years later we may have teenagers or 20 somethings afraid to "Do the Hard Things" because fear of failure keeps them from even trying.
Pastor Furtick from Elevation wrote on a recent blog - that when we move up to the next level - we often find ourselves at the bottom of that next level instead of at the top. Its like moving from Elementary school to Middle School. We are at the top of the school in 5th grade only to come to 6th and be at the bottom. Middle to High - High to College - Job Promotion to Job Promotion......... God wants to stretch us, teach us, push us to our limits and beyond .... so that we grow.
Growth being a Christain is the same concept. We are baby Christians we think and act centered around us. Spoon fed........ learning, shaping, character building because of Jesus - our focus becomes others, serving others, helping others.... the graduation from one level to another can't happen without some failure along the way.
BUT - it produces growth...........Great things are ahead ~
Peace,
Lon~
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Footprints.....
What I have to share this morning comes from Acts 26: - I have been thinking about this for weeks now as a piece a story together.
What kind of footprint are you going to leave that represented your life? When its all said and done - what will be your mark that your life stood for? What imprint is left?
Our footprints are all different. They are also there only for a short while until the water washes it away and shifts the particals of sand from one place to another. The last few years has taught me some very important things in life. Never take it for granted and don't put off what you can do today until tomorrow because tomorrow may not come. Today is a gift and we should thank God for each of them because its by His grace we are allowed to live it. My mom was such a giving woman. She lived her entire life giving and serving others. Often times, doing without so that someone else could have. I can remember her telling my brother and I that it was always better to give than to receive. Only until the last few years have I really understood that. Only until recently it has really got a hold of my heart.
I have always wanted to live my adult life as simply as possible. I never really dreamed of being rich or famous. I just wanted to live a happy life with what I had with family and friends around me. So many of us persue the dreams of the rich and famous. You can see how some of their lives have gone and make that decision. I know many folks who have tossed their marriages aside, raising their kids or working endlessly for the bigger house and bigger paycheck. Today people move across country for $2000 more a year when they should be putting down roots and footprints for their children. I spoke a little about this on Sunday being that I feel very blessed to have what I have. To have more than my fair share of things in this life and how I did not want to just store those things up. Build bigger barns to hold more things - many of us have garages today only to hold stuff - instead of the family vehicles. I want my life to be about "Jesus" and about "Giving". In that order - I walked through the graveyard where my mom is buried a few weeks back after my family reunion. So much is told in the words on those headstones. ~Loving wife - loving mother - war veteran - died too early .... so many things that people will read and remember. That one thing sums it up? Is that what we will remember of that person? Over the last few years my family and I have shared in the loss of some close family members. They were hard times to go through. Coming out on the other side has left a lasting mark on our lives. Life is way too short ...and now that we are officially middle age I guess - 42 - who knows how much time is left here. We just don't know and I have been just heart pressed to make a difference today. SO many of us work and raise our families, doing our own thing and waiting for retirement. Thinking then we will be living - got some free time, don't have to work, kids are grown - now its time to live. Doctor calls and things change. Plans come to a halt. Life is paused as our life plays out its story. As followers of Jesus - we are called to be different. We are called to make a difference in those around us, to share the "Good News" to breath truth and life into those around us. To be that encouragement someone needs and to be that friend when someone needs it. To be that male or female role model for that child who needs one. To forgive because God has forgiven you regardless of what has been done. Grace is an amazing thing!
When taking a stand for Jesus - it can be really hard at times. We carry the weight of those around us often times. I could never imagine the weight that our local church pastors carry. I feel 1000 pounds sometimes! But I know those pounds are because of Jesus and I am willing to carry the load for Him because one day I will stand alone - me and Him - and I will be judged for my -Footprints- that I have left here. I don't want to waver or quit the fight. In Acts 26: Paul who led a life chasing down Christians, killing them, putting them in jail and so many other things. He often called himself the worst of the worst. God used him in one of the greatest capacities ever. He faught the good fight and stood strong for Jesus all the way to the finish line. No matter how hard it was..... he endured even when he had the chance to walk away from it - to live his life longer.
SO I am asking this morning - what kind of footprint are you leaving behind? We all will have a headstone with something written on it .... what is that going to be?
Some of us will have a chance to write that and some of us won't. Some of us will have the chance to tell family and friends what they have meant to us and some of us won't. That is one reason why I tell so many of you now and today - I love you. There is no question or doubts - I am willing to "Do the Hard Things" and serve others ~ and give so much of myself. I want my footprint to mean something........ something significant for Jesus. Let Him live in you and through you loved ones. Chin up...... and leave your mark.
With a footprint love,
Lonnie~
Acts 26
1Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4"The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. 6And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. 7This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. 8Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
12"On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[a] 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
15"Then I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?'
" 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
19"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. 21That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23that the Christ[b] would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
24At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
25"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
29Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
32Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
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